Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong named Ambassador-designate Marc Innes-Brown as the new ambassador to the Philippines.
Australian Ambassador-designate Marc Innes-Brown (Photo from UN Watch)
The announcement was made on July 6 by the Australia’s Foreign Ministry.
Innes-Brown will replace outgoing Australian Ambassador to Manila Hae Kyong Yu, who completed her tour of duty.
“Mr. Innes-Brown is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division,” Wong said.
The new envoy also previously served overseas as Australia’s ambassador to Türkiye, Iran and Iraq, and had previous postings in Thailand and the United States.
“I thank outgoing Ambassador Ms. HK Yu for her contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in the Philippines since 2022,” the Foreign Minister added.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, July 10, Yu welcomed the appointment of her “dear friend.”
“Mabuhay my dear friend and Ambassador-designate Marc Innes-Brown PSM! I wish you all the best over the next three years as you advance the (Australia-Philippines) Strategic Partnership,” she wrote.
Wong, in her statement, underscored the two countries’ “long partnership” and “deep friendship,” which are “built on mutual trust and cooperation, and a commitment to peaceful, stable and prosperous region.”
She also pointed out that due to the long-standing ties, President Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese elevated the two nations’ bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2023.
“Our Strategic Partnership underpins our close cooperation in defence and security, trade and investment, development, education and the energy transition,” Wong said.
“Our bilateral relationship is supported by strong people-to-people ties, with over 400,000 people of Filipino heritage in Australia – our fifth-largest migrant community,” she added.